Streaming server sharing media source locations with over-air server

A method comprising:

• at an over-air media server coupled via a first communications network to an on-air broadcast chain:
• obtaining first media content, wherein obtaining the first media content includes obtaining external content stored in a location external to the over-air media server;
• delivering the first media content for broadcast via the on-air broadcast chain;
• at a streaming media server coupled to the over-air media server, and coupled to a streaming broadcast chain via a second communications network:
• operating in a synchronized mode, wherein operating in the synchronized mode includes delivering second media content to the streaming broadcast chain under control of the over-air media server;
• transitioning from operating in the synchronized mode to operating in an independent mode, wherein operating in the independent mode includes delivering the second media content to the streaming broadcast chain independent of control by over-air media server;
• and
• operating in the independent mode subsequent to the transition from operating in the synchronized mode to operating in an independent mode, wherein operating in the independent mode includes:
• obtaining the second media content, wherein obtaining the second media content includes obtaining the external content from a same location external to the over-air media server used by the over-air media server to obtain the external content;
• and
• delivering the second media content to the streaming broadcast chain under control of the over-air media server.

A streaming media server comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor;
• at least one communications interface coupled to the processor and the memory, the communications interface configured to:
• couple the streaming media server to an over-air media server, the over-air media server configured to obtain first media content including external content stored in a location external to the over-air media server, and to deliver the first media content for broadcast via an on-air broadcast chain;
• couple the streaming media server to a streaming broadcast chain;
• the processor programmed to:
• configure the streaming media server to operate in a synchronized mode, wherein operating in the synchronized mode includes delivering second media content to the streaming broadcast chain under control of the over-air media server;
• configure the streaming media server to transition from operating in the synchronized mode to operating in an independent mode, wherein operating in the independent mode includes delivering the second media content to the streaming broadcast chain independent of control by over-air media server;
• and
• configure the streaming media server to operate in the independent mode subsequent to the transition from operating in the synchronized mode to operating in an independent mode, wherein during operation in the independent mode the streaming media server is further configured to:
• obtain the second media content, wherein obtaining the second media content includes obtaining the external content from a same location external to the over-air media server used by the over-air media server to obtain the external content;
• and
• deliver the second media content to the streaming broadcast chain under control of the over-air media server.